COURTESY PHOTO | The Town Board at its Tuesday work session discussed test well levels, FEMA grants and residency requirements for town employees.

What a difference a week makes.

At the January 14 Town Board work session, Supervisor Jim Dougherty reported what he termed “encouraging” news for December’s test well levels. All 13 well’s water levels were up.

But Tuesday Mr. Dougherty gave a polar opposite report for mid-January levels. Eleven wells were down, with the Dering Harbor Village well at its lowest level since testing began seven years ago. The Rocky Point Avenue, Big Ram and Little Ram wells are 20 percent below their January averages. (more…)

JULIE LANE PHOTO Town Engineer John Cronin says the need for information from well testing is critical.

Students, staff and teachers at the Shelter Island School in the 1980s will remember informative signs that the water was unsafe for drinking. When an addition was put on the school in 1992, one of the requirements for construction was that the school’s well had to be relocated. (more…)